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1 Dorchester News December 2015

DORCHESTER NEWS

December 2015/ January 2016

FREE TO EVERY HOME IN

THE PARISH

Talking Point Just as Dorchester News was going to press we were all stunned by the news

of concerted attacks on Paris for the second time this year. Whilst the first attack was contained and specific this

attack was more horrific in that it targeted places of recreation on a

night of the week when we expect people to be enjoying themselves. The people who died and were injured on

Friday 13 November were taking no risks, standing up for no principle, offending

no-one, simply attending a friendly football match, a rock concert, eating in a

café. These are things we all do and we felt the shock all the more because of it.

The symbol of the Eiffel Tower combined

with the Peace symbol designed by the graphic artist Jean Jullien spread quickly across the world reproduced on

tee shirts, on newspaper banner headlines and social media. It caught our imagination because it reminded us

instantly of Paris and spoke immediately of the desire for Peace.

As we approach Christmas our human desire for Peace will be a significant

greeting on the cards we send and receive and in the messages of politicians, thinkers and clergy alike. As people

gather to sing or listen to Christmas carols in concerts, church services and carol singers’ phrases about

Peace on Earth will be a constantly repeated theme. This is no new aspiration for humanity.

So why, when Peace is a common desire, do we continually find ourselves at odds with one another?

Of course I can’t offer a definitive answer

– but so many things in the history of our nation and our world and in that of

my own and other faiths suggest that one thing is true – Peace is threat-

ened by fear – because when we are afraid we lash out. Fear makes us feel vulnerable and human instinct is

to use what power we have to protect ourselves.

What of the Christmas message of Peace in all of this? The Shepherds’

story tells us that the Angels greeting began ‘Fear not…’ when they announced the birth of the

one they called Saviour. The baby Jesus was an-nounced as a new King

and the existing King was so afraid for his own

power that he ordered all the children killed. The Baby Jesus was dubbed

Prince of Peace by hymn writers in the nineteenth century perhaps because the grown man Jesus of Nazareth

spoke more often about forgiveness and Peace than anything else. Some of his final words handed down by

those who shared a final evening with him were: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to

you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.’

The children in our schools sing a hymn ‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me’. Naïve as this sounds in the wake of some violence and hatred in our world today it is the best, and perhaps the only starting point we can have because if it was the starting point for everyone there would be nothing left to fear. I wish you a peaceful Christmas in your hearts, in your homes and in our world. Do not fear and may God Bless You!

Reverend Sue

In this issue Abbey Bell Ringers Abbey Calendar Abbey Christmas Tree Abbey Family Service Orch. Abbey Museum Abbey Tearoom Anne Bowditch Carbon Project Chiropodist Christmas Service Christmas Tree collection Congratulations Bell Ringers Culham Horticultural Dorchester WI Dots Tots Earth Trust events Earth Trust fund raising Fishmonger Focus on WI Footsteps Christmas Concert Footsteps Foundation news Friends of Abbey visit Halloween Hempcroft Allotment News HfT Concert Historical Society John Howell MP Logs for labour Lorraine Lindsey-Gale Max Watson Mobile Library Morten Clements Narnia in the Abbey Nine Lessons and Carols Parish Council Notices Parliament of Religion Posada Posada Party Pre School Recycling Refuse Collection Regular events Royal British Legion Song School St Birinus School Talking Point Team Services 27, 31 Dec. Thames Consort Traffic speed survey Village Bus Services Village Carol Singing Village Christmas Tree Village fireworks Wallingford Corn Exchange Wallingford Gardening Club Wallingford Historical Society Wallingford Museum Wallingford Photo Club Wallingford U3A

11 26 5 3 7 7

19 13 23 3

25 3 7

21 5

13 21 7

15 9

21 7

17 7 5 7

green 1 13

green 2 3

13 11 9 3

green 1 11 3 3

17 25 25 25 5 3

17 1 3 5

green 1 24 3 5 9

24 23 23 23 23 23

Dorchester News December 2015 2

Dorchester News Editorial Team

Ian Brace, Megan Parry

Copy Deadlines for Dorchester News Advert Deadlines for Dorchester News

One week before copy deadline

Those items in electronic form may be sent via e-mail attachment to [email protected]. Anything people would like sent to newsletter editors for other churches in the Team should be sent to [email protected] by the 9th of the preceding month.

Magazine Advertising Costs Why not use this parish magazine to advertise your business, service, function, etc? There are ten issues per year with double issues in July/August and in Dec/Jan. For an eighth of a page the cost is £11.75, for a quarter page £23.50, for a half page £35.25 and just £47.00 for a full page. All charges are put towards the cost of the paper, printing and postage of copies being sent outside the village. You may supply your own advert or we can produce the advert and artwork for a fee.

Should you wish to incorporate a logo or artwork, please supply a copy, preferably via e-mail: [email protected]. One-time adverts, please send a cheque, payable to ‘Dorchester Abbey PCC’, to Nick Forman, Willoughby House, 73 High Street, Dorchester-on-Thames, OX10 7HN.

Editorial As ever in December there is much going on in the run up to Christmas. There will be a Christmas tree in the Abbey, which we are all invited to decorate on 5 December. The previous day we can listen to the primary school sing carols at the tree outside the Co-op. On Monday 14th we can go round the village singing carols and raising money for ABCD, and we can attend one of three charity concerts in the Abbey: on the 8th for Home Farm Trust, the 9th for Footsteps, and the 13th for PACT. Then of course there will be the traditional service of nine lessons and carols in the Abbey on Sunday 20th December. And in between all that, there will be the Royal British Legion Christmas Draw in The George on the 16th.

In January the regular meetings and societies, some of which will have taken a Christmas break, will resume. Culham and District Horticultural Club will meet on the 20th and, on the 27th, the Historical Society will have a talk about postcards of Dorchester from Denise Line, which promises to be fascinating.

The one cloud on the horizon is that SODC are considering removing Green Belt status from the field between the village and the by-pass, which could lead to it being built on. The Parish Council is keeping an eye on that, and watch out for a possible public meeting in the new year.

Finally, this is the last issue that will be printed by John Rees, who has been printing Dorchester News for many years now, as we move to a new printer with the next issue. I would like to thank John on behalf of myself and my predecessors for all he has done to get the Dorchester News to you over the years.

Ian Brace

Useful Information Contacting the Police

To report a non-emergency crime, or to give information to Thames Valley Police, please call 101 Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. In the event of an emergency dial 999.

Direct Line to Urgent Local Health Services Dial 111 to access urgent local NHS health care services. The NHS111 team will, where possible, book you an appointment or transfer you directly to the people you need to speak to or send an ambulance if they think you need one. (For non-urgent health needs you should contact your GP in the usual way)

Minor Injuries The Minor Injuries Unit at Abingdon Hospital, Marcham Road, is available every day from 10.00 am to 10.30 pm: 01865 903476.

A&E The nearest A & E units are at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford (01865 741166) and the Royal Berkshire in Reading (01183 225111)

Health Centre—Berinsfield Telephone number 01865 340558

Clifton Hampden Surgery Telephone Number 01865 407888

Abbey Guest House Bookings

Anyone wishing to hire the Abbey Guest House for private functions, meetings, exhibitions, etc, should contact Hilarie Rogers on 01865 340007.

Hire of Dorchester Village Hall To hire our Village Hall, please contact Brenda Edwards; [email protected], or telephone: 01865 343062. Please telephone at least 24 hours in advance to arrange collection of the key.

The Communal Lounge at Belcher Court The communal lounge at Belcher Court is now available for rent. Contact the Scheme Manager, Caroline Major, on 01865 343128.

Street lighting - fault reporting Report any problems with a street light to 0800 317802, which is available 24 hours a day. Callers will be asked for the address of the site and the nature of the fault.

Complaints about highways and footpaths Ring Oxfordshire Highways on 0845 3101111, available five days a week, with a 24-hour answering facility. Complaints can also be sent via e-mail to [email protected].

Blocked Drains? Ring Thames Water for blocked drains on 0800 316 9800. Callers will be asked for the postcode of the address where the drains are blocked.

Refuse collection Any residents whose household rubbish is not collected on the due date (see page 25) should contact the contractor direct. The number to call is 03000 610610 and the website www.morerecyling.co.uk

Berinsfield Library Green Furlong, Berinsfield 01865 340771

Free Internet access. DVDs can be ordered. Opening hours

Mon - closed Tues, Wed, Fri 10.00 am –12.30 pm Tues 2.00–7.00 pm Weds, Thurs 2.00–5.30 pm Fri 2.00–5.00 pm Sat 10.00 am – 12.30 pm

Village Bus Services Information about village bus services is now given on inside back page. Information about bus services, both local and national, is available from www.traveline.info, and 0871 200 2233, which also provides information about trains, London Underground and Overground and ferries throughout the UK.

Oxfordshire Dial-A-Ride Door to door minibus service for shopping trips. For information

please contact 0845 310 1111.

Shopmobility Free loan of wheelchairs and electric scooters to people who

need them for shopping in Oxford. For information please ring

01865 248737.

Contacting the Parish Council The Parish Clerk is Geoffrey Russell of The Pigeons (next to The Fleur de Lys), High Street, Dorchester on Thames OX10 7HH; 01865 340759 (during normal office hours, please, unless an emergency); [email protected]. More information about the village is available at: www.dorchesteronthames.co.uk

February edition 8 January

March edition 12 February

April edition 11 March


Christmas Families are particularly welcome on Christmas morning at 10.30 am, and there will be the opportunity for those who wish to leave after the Peace. Children are invited to bring a present to show Reverend Sue.

Team Service 27 December

The post-Christmas Service for the Dorchester Team will be at Dorchester Abbey at 10.30 am.

Song School 17 January

Dorchester Abbey is holding a free workshop for singers aged between 7 and 13 on Sunday 17 January 2016. The workshop will start at 2.30 pm., with registration from 2.15 pm and a mini-concert for families of participants at 3.30 pm. No experience is necessary, just an enjoyment of singing and a willingness to have a go! The afternoon will be led by Elinor Carter, a Wallingford-based singer, teacher and conductor, and accompanied by Jeremy Boughton, director of music at the abbey. The workshop is a taster for the new Dorchester Song School, which will meet on Wednesdays from 5.00 to 6.00 pm, beginning the following Wednesday, 20 January. To register your interest in the workshop, the Song School or both, please send your child's name, date of birth, school and your name and contact details to [email protected] with the subject ‘Song School’. We hope very much that your child will want to be part of this exciting new project.

Team Service 31 December

This will be at St Laurence Church, Warborough at 10.30 am. There will be activities for children.

The Dorchester Abbey Family Service Orchestra

Once a month, a group of musicians get together to accompany the hymns at the Dorchester Abbey family service; this usually happens on the third Sunday of the month at 10.30 am. At the moment we boast Oboe, Clari-net, Saxophone, Bassoon, Violin, Viola and 'Cello. We rehearse before the service at 9.45 am. Would you like to join us? We are looking for players of orchestral and brass instruments any age from about grade two standard upwards. Music is available to look at a week before each service. If you think you might be interested, speak to Jeremy Boughton (Abbey Organist) on 01491 836310, or contact via the parish office, or just come to a Family Service.

Village Carol Singing Monday 14 December 6pm

Come and have great fun singing carols around the village with the Abbey choir to raise money for ABCD - Action Around Bethlehem Children with Disability. We will meet outside The Fleur at 6.00 pm and finish with mulled wine and mince pies. All ages and talents welcome. Even if you can’t sing you can help by collecting money! Bring a torch and dress up warm. Please email/phone if you intend to come: occa-sionally we call it off if the weather is dreadful!

Steph Forman [email protected]

01865 340434

Posada Posada is an old Mexican tradition where young people dressed as Mary and Joseph travelled from house to house asking for a room for the night and telling people in the weeks leading up to Christmas about the imminent arrival of Jesus . Modern day Posada uses nativity

figures of Mary and Joseph who travel from place to place. This gives each ‘host’ the chance to create their own celebration reaching out to others with the real message of Christmas, making room for Jesus in their lives. Look out for Dorchester’s Mary and Joseph through Advent, travelling to school and pre-school, and from win-dow to window towards the Abbey where they will finally arrive at the Crib Service on Christmas Eve, enjoying a Posada Party at our family service on Sunday 20 December along the way.

Max Watson The family of Max Watson would like to thank all those who helped make Max's memorial service on 17 October such a beautiful event. A special thank you goes to Jeremy Boughton and the Dorchester Abbey Choir for their won-derful contribution to the service.

Janny Watson

Posada Party and Nine Lessons and Carols

Every year Mary and Joseph end their journey around the village (see ‘Posada’ above) at a special party – and everyone is invited! On Sunday 20 December our last family service of the year will be a Café style service with Carols, Christmas Story and craft activities.

That same day at 6.00 pm we will tell the Christmas story in the traditional style with Bible Readings, Choir Anthems and Carols for everyone to sing.

These and other Christmas events are on the invitation insert in the Dorchester News – we look forward to seeing you at Christmas.

Congratulations to our Bell Ringers!!

Who have been awarded a Gold standard by the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers for the way in which the Bell Tower is kept. A range of things were assessed, including various safety factors, e.g. emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and visible first aid kit; cleanliness and tidiness of the stairs, ringing cham-ber, clock chamber and belfry, as well as our record of maintenance and condition of the bells. In 2003, when last inspected they were awarded bronze!

Well Done – and thank you for keeping faithful to the tradition of calling people to worship by ringing the Church Bells.

mailto:[email protected]


HfT Coming of Christmas Concert

The 21st Hft Coming of Christmas Concert is taking place

on 8 December 2015 at Dorchester Abbey. Join us in the historic Dorchester Abbey for this much loved festive event. Christmas carols and festive music will be performed by the world renowned New College Choir, Oxford, whilst the famous abbey is bathed in the light of more than a thousand candles. The choir will be joined by guest speakers Sunny Ormonde and Andrew Wincott, best known as Lilian Bellamy and Adam Macy from The Archers on BBC Radio 4. Come prepared to join in with joyous singing and enjoy the festive mulled wine and mince pies, which will be served after the concert. Hft is a national charity which provides local, personalised support to adults with learning disabilities across the UK in creative, resourceful ways to enable individuals to live the lives they choose. All proceeds from the event will go towards their work for people with learning disabilities such as the Hft Oxfordshire service which runs the Bytes hospitality and catering course. This is an accredited course which has been devised to help attendees develop skills which could form part of their portfolio, giving them a greater opportunity to gain employment in the catering sector. Tickets are £20 and can be bought online at

http://www.hft.org.uk/comingofchristmas

or by calling 01179 061767.

The Thames Consort at Dorchester Abbey

31 January On Sunday 31 January 2016 at 7.00 pm The Thames Consort will be giving a concert in aid of The Friends of Dorchester Abbey. The programme will include vocal and instrumental music by Purcell, Hassler, Buxtehude, Vivaldi and Mozart. Some of the music will have a slightly seasonal flavour! The singers of The Thames Consort are joined by Sharon Warnes and Claire Parkin (Violins) and Judith Dallosso (‘Cello), directed by Jeremy Boughton. Do come and uplift your spirits on a winter evening and hear some beautiful music performed in the splendid surroundings of the Abbey. Entry free! There will be a collection at the end of the concert and all proceeds (after expenses) go to the Friends of Dorchester Abbey.

To all toddlers… and parents/carers/grandparents

We really hope you can make our Christmas DotsTots in the Abbey on Tuesday 15 December at 10.15 am. There will be singing and a story, followed of course by some high quality biscuits and coffee! Please everyone feel welcome, and come to support us.

Let’s revive a village tradition! On Friday 4 December the village Christmas tree will be arriving! At 2.00 pm. the primary school children will be singing carols around the tree, as the lights are turned on. Come along and join in the carol singing, have a mince pie and a glass of winter Pimms.

Organised by the Parish Council.

Dorchester Abbey Christmas Tree Event

Saturday 5 December 09.30-11.30

Please come to help decorate the tree.

All-age workshop to make decorations for the tree.

Please ensure that children are accompanied by an adult.

Refreshments will be available.

Royal British Legion Annual Christmas Draw

The Annual Christmas Draw will take place in The George, Dorchester on Wednesday 16 December at 7.00 pm. Draw tickets will be £1 each or £5 per book. Prizes will include a £50 Tesco hamper, dinners for two at The George and The White Hart, spirits, wine, chocolates etc. Tickets available from committee members and retailers in the village. All proceeds to the Royal British Legion. If you would like to donate a prize please contact me on the number below.

Simon Madden Chairman

07831 392343

http://www.hft.org.uk/comingofchristmas


Fishmonger The travelling fishmonger comes to Dorchester every

Tuesday and will stop at :

10.20 - 10.30am in High Street near War Memorial

Culham & District Horticultural Club

Meetings are held at the Abbey Guest House Dorchester-on-Thames at 7.30 pm.

Wednesday 20 January 2016 "Plants, Animals & Evolution in the Galapagos Islands": an illustrated talk by Ken Burras (former Director of the Oxford Botanic Gardens and current Chairman, Culham Horticultural Club). Membership is open to all those who have a keen interest in horticulture (annual subscription £15) and visitors are welcome at the meeting (suggested donation £2). For more details telephone 01235 850381 or email [email protected]

Dorchester Abbey Museum A huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who wel-comed over four thousand visitors to the museum during the summer. We have visitors from all over the world, but it is especially pleasing when local people bring friends and relatives in to see the displays about Dorchester’s fascinating past. We are always looking for more volunteers, and there are many ways to help behind the scenes when the museum is closed, perhaps with the displays, with publicity or helping to catalogue our archive of old photographs, or could you offer just six afternoons between Easter Saturday and the end of September to welcome visitors into the museum and gift shop? A recent comment in our visitors’ book reads: ‘What a wonderful museum! Quite the best I’ve seen in many years of church visiting. Superbly organised and well presented.’ If you would like to know more, please phone Yvonne on

01865 340465.

Dorchester on Thames Historical Society

Wednesday 27 January 2016 7.30 pm in Dorchester Village Hall (back room)

A talk by Denise Line entitled ‘A Postcard from Dorchester’.

They say that every photograph tells a story and can provoke memories. This certainly was the case when the photograph of the High Street appeared in the article about the Historical Society in the November copy of the Dorchester News. Denise will be talking about this as well as showing other photographs of Dorchester in her collection. The talk will be followed by a short AGM. Visitors and new members are always very welcome to our talks and outings.

Gail Thomas Chairman

Dorchester Abbey Tearoom The results are in, and once again they are simply remarkable. Our total this year was £13,759.04 with a further £3,573.30 raised by a number of local charities and associations which makes the final sum a whopping

£17, 332.34!!!! Many, many thanks to all our helpers and customers.

Christina Stores Friends of Dorchester Abbey Visit to Llandaff

A date for your diary: The Friends of Dorchester Abbey are organising a visit to Llandaff on Monday 9 May 2016. There will be a guided tour of Llandaff Cathedral in the afternoon, which should give time to explore the local sites – maybe in Cardiff – in the morning. All will be welcome. Further details in the new year

Hempcroft Allotment News Stuart Poole, who is a bit of a wizard in these things, has now set up a dedicated website for the Hempcroft Allotments. It is early days and the website is still being populated but you can visit it at http://hempcroftallotments.org.

At the AGM the bulk purchase of frost protection fleece and weed matting was proposed and agreed. This has now been done and details are to be posted on the website. The Allotment Society has purchased 250m of 2m wide 17gsm frost protection fleece and 100m of 2m wide water permeable weed matting. Members of the Allotment Society can purchase either of these two products at the price of £0.40 per metre length of frost protection fleece and £1.40 per metre length of weed matting. Information on how to pay for and collect these materials is on the website.

The year is coming to an end and winter is approaching and so it is time to prepare for next season and reflect on this year’s efforts on your allotment. Remember that there are no failures; it is always down to the weather, pigeons, slugs, or various Acts of God.

It is now time to tidy up your plot for the winter and if you have a fruit cage do not forget to remove the top netting. Some people are predicting a harsh winter: there could be snow!

Edward Metcalfe

340160

http://hempcroftallotments.org


Demesne Field and the SODC Green Belt Study

Many may not be aware that over the past year SODC have had a team of consultants making a study of land parcels in the district with the aim of identifying some that could be removed from the Green Belt and used probably for housing. In the past week we have heard that one of the parcels under consideration is what is called locally the Demesne or Blundell`s field, which is an open field located between the A4074 by-pass, Drayton Road and the River Thame. It should be emphasised that no final decision will be made by SODC until March/April next year, but your coun-cil has concerns about the possible impact this could have on our village for the future. We are discussing how we will respond to this situation

and may call a public meeting early in the 2016 when we

know more.

Narnia in the Abbey Autumn 2016

We are planning to stage a Narnia themed exhibition family/schools event in the Abbey during October-November 2016, do you think you might have any items you could donate post-Christmas?

We will be aiming to recreate scenes from the book and will need materials to be able to stage this. After Christmas you might find you want a change for next year and/or have some things surplus to requirements or some unwanted gifts. If that’s the case we would welcome your donations!

We need donations of the following props:

Artificial Christmas trees and greenery garlands, deco-rations, fake snow,

Working fairy lights (preferably white). Old coats and furs. Crowns, swords, capes, bow and arrows etc. A large lion!

If you would like to find out more about this or would like to be involved in the planning and/or staging of the event or be involved during the event itself, please speak to the Education Officer, Margaret Craig on 01865 343164 or email her at [email protected].

Christmas Carols and Concerts in the Abbey

HfT 8 December

Christmas carols and festive music performed by New College Choir, whilst the Abbey is bathed in the light of more than a thousand can-dles. The choir will be joined by guest speakers from The Archers. Tickets £20.

Footsteps Foundation 9 December

For the first time, local children's charity Footsteps Foundation are holding a Christmas concert. The programme includes traditional carols by Headington Singers, with a Jazz trio, a soprano solo, a special song with Footsteps children and a Ukulele band. 6.30 pm.

PACT 13 December

Carols from the Abbey Choir, Erin Hughes, Rhean Legg and Reading Community Gospel Choir. Free, but tickets must be booked in advance. 5.00 pm

Service of Nine Lessons and Carols

20 December The traditional church service with readings and carols both old and new. Led by the Abbey clergy and

with the Abbey Choir. 6.00 pm.

See individual entries elsewhere in Dorchester News for charges or ticket information where necessary.



Dorchester Abbey Bell Ringers Ding dong merrily on high

Christmas carol As Christmas is a festive time the bell ringers offer you a gentle quiz to entertain you in a quiet moment. The answers have all appeared in the bell ringers’ notes in the Dorchester News in 2015 with two exceptions. The answer to question 5 is general knowledge, the answer to question 7 is linked to an announcement by the Dorchester Historical Society. 1 How many bells are hung in Dorchester Abbey? [Feb]

2 When was the oldest bell cast? [April]

3 How long does it take to ring a peal? [May]

4 Where were the bells rung on the days of a hanging? [May] 5 What did the bells of Shoreditch reply to the bells of Old Bailey? 6 How many steps to the clock chamber? [March]

7 Who was the writer/bell ringer whose home was visited by the Dorchester Historical Society this year? [May] 8 Who was the author of Campanalogia? [July] 9 What is the difference in sound between ringing out the old and ringing in the new years?. [Feb]] 10 What is the name of the bell hanging family of Appleton? [April] 11 Why did High Wycombe ringers refuse to ring when the bishop came calling in 1832? [May] 12 Why was the clock not working when the bishop came calling on Dorchester Abbey in 1441? [March] May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Dorchester Bell Ringers.

Answers are at the bottom of the page—upside down!

Answers 1) 8; 2) 1375; 3) 3 hours; 4) St Sepulchre at Old Bailey; 5) ‘When I grow rich’; 6) 70; 7) John Bunyan; 8) Fabian Stedman; 9) The bells are half muffled to ring out the old year; 10) White; 11) The bishop had voted against the Parliamentary Reform Bill; 12) The abbot had used the clock rope to replace the bell rope.

Answers to Bell Ringers’ Quiz

Parliament of Religion Parliaments of Religion are always exciting, inspiring and confusing events. At the most recent in Salt Lake City there were some 8,000 people from over 90 countries and of a great variety of religious or spiritual traditions – so you never know where the next conversation may take you. There are most of the time, some twenty different programmes to choose from, as well as exhibitions to visit. Mary and I have been to all of the five modern Parliaments, so it was great to have our granddaughter Helen Hobin with us to help us see the amazing event with fresh eyes. Together we arranged a multi-media morning devotion called, ‘Peace in Our Hearts, Peace in Our World’.

The focus was on what religions can do together to ‘Reclaim the Heart of Our Humanity’. As the Dalai Lama said in a message, what is needed is ‘action not just words’. Participants were invited to make personal pledges to help reduce the damaging impact of climate change on the most vulnerable people in the world; to challenge the widening wealth gap and to provide for refugees: and to commit ourselves to do all we can to resist ‘hate speech, violence and war’ – and especially bombing and terrorism targeted on innocent civilians.

A highlight of the Parliament was a concert of sacred music in the Tabernacle of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints of Jesus Christ (Mormons). The children’s choir, with youngsters from most of the many faith communities in Salt Lake City, inspired everyone with their hope that a new world is possible, but that ‘only we can be the change’. Indeed, music can often unite, where words di-vide. One of our Jewish friends, who is hoping to make an interfaith musical for Broadway, played us some of her songs.

We also had a chance to revisit the beautiful Centre of Thanksgiving in Dallas, which has a wonderful window by John Hutton. Thanksgiving not only reminds us of our blessings but increases our compassion for others. Marcus also gave a lecture on the importance of interfaith work at the University of Dallas.

Mary and Marcus Braybrooke

Morten Clements World Championship Multiple

Gold medal Winner Morten Clements, pictured right, has recently returned from the Tang Soo Do World Championships in Malaysia, where he won three gold medals and a silver medal in his events. Tang Soo Do is a traditional Korean martial art, and Morten started training aged 7 years. He now runs Tang Soo Do classes at the Abbey Sports Centre in Berinsfield every Thursday evening, 6.20 pm to 7.40 pm, newcomers welcome. Morten is also a personal trainer. For more details, please contact 07902 271559.


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mobile LIBRARY

Alternate Thursdays, 2.55–3.15 pm Lay-by opposite the War Memorial

10, 24 December, 7, 21 January

Earth Trust December events

Introduction to Hedge-laying Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 December, 9.30 am-4.00 pm A very practical, hands on two days laying a Midland style hedge with expert Clive Leeke. Learn about this traditional skill on the job here on the Earth Trust’s nature reserve in Little Wittenham. All specialist tools and equipment provided. £75; booking essential: 01865 407792 or [email protected]. Winter Wetland Birds Sunday 6 December, 9.30 am-11.00 am Local expert Ben Carpenter will take you on a guided walk around beautiful Thrupp Lake, near Abingdon (OX14 3NG), where you’ll find out all about the overwintering birds and their habitats. £5 adult, £2 child, free for Earth Trust Friends; booking essential: 01865 407792 or [email protected]. Natural Christmas Sunday 6 December, 11.00 am-3.00 pm Drop in to the Earth Trust Centre and make your own unique Christmas decorations and gifts using natural and recycled materials, plus visit Father Christmas! Price by activity, see website for details: www.earthtrust.org.uk/whatson.

Heritage Skills Taster Session: Hedge-laying Sunday 13 December, 10.00 am-4.00 pm Discover the basics of hedge-laying in an informal taster session, working alongside the regular Earth Trust Sunday volunteers. Free but please book: 01865 409413 or [email protected]. If you enjoy this free session, look out for more of our weekend introductory courses in the new year. More information can be found on our website www.earthtrust.org.uk. All events take place at the Earth Trust, Little Wittenham, OX14 4QZ unless otherwise stated.

Logs for labour is on again! Would you like free firewood, or do you have a woodland that needs managing? The Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment’s Logs for labour programme aims to promote sustainable use of firewood by running events where volunteers help to manage woodlands in return for logs. The events run most weekends in the winter, are about three hours long, and could involve coppicing hazel, thinning trees or piling up brash. All you need are sturdy gloves, shoes and a saw (only hand tools are allowed for insurance reasons) or let us know if your woodland needs the help of volunteers. Information about forthcoming events is at www.oxonwoodfuel.org.uk/logs-for-labour or ‘like’ www.facebook.com/oxonwood.

Riki Therivel 01865 243488

Dorchester Carbon Project Living Lightly in Dorchester

The Dorchester Carbon Project was established several years ago to help support residents in Dorchester on Thames who wish to live a life which has the lightest impact possible on the environment – hence Living Lightly in Dorchester! During those years the group won several awards and grants to enable Dorchester to become a low carbon village. As a village we had one of the highest recycling rates in the county, we were the first village to be award-ed a government grant for being a Zero Waste Place. The Dorchester Shopping Bag, which you will see about the village, was one of the first initiatives of the Dorches-ter Carbon Project, among many others such as the very popular Swap Shops. Recently the Dorchester Carbon Project has not been active for various reasons – projects and grants were completed, members of the committee left the village, had babies, changed employment etc. With the forthcoming Climate Change talks in Paris this month, now seem like a good time to re-activate the Dorchester Carbon Project and start Living Lightly in Dorchester once again. One idea would be to start by holding a Post-Christmas Swap Shop – a chance to clear out all the things you no longer need (or those much appreciated but unwanted presents!), things that for someone else is just what they are looking for. If you are interested in joining the Dorchester Carbon Project; would like to help out at the Swap Shop or just have some ideas please do get in touch. Email. [email protected] or text 07729100553. We could really do with some people for the committee – which is very informal and requires no experience or someone who might like to get the website up and running again. Any help welcome.

Laura Bristow (previous Secretary of Dorchester Carbon Project)



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Focus on...the WI Are we just Jam and Jerusalem or Are We Women Inspiring Women?

My aim is to produce a potted insight into the Women's Institute (WI). Having only been a member for 7 years, this for me is a voyage of discovery. In 2015 the WI celebrated its centenary. From January 2014 a baton travelled around Britain starting in Anglesey (where the British WI was first formed in 1915), it's final destination being the Centenary AGM on 4 June 2015 at the Royal Albert Hall. Her Majesty the Queen was guest of honour, but is a member in her own right. DOT members saw this on a television loop at my home and we also celebrated the occasion with a share lunch.

Celebrations took many forms as the Centenary Baton travelled around Britain. South Oxfordshire Institutes held a service and celebration at Dorchester Abbey in April 2015. About 400 members attended. Celebratory cakes had been made and Mary Tame our oldest member (101 years of age) cut one of the cakes and spoke encouraging words to fellow members.

The following day Oxfordshire passed the baton on to Berkshire at Greyfriars near Henley-On-Thames. The day was beautiful and several of our members attended.

The Centenary Garden Party at Buckingham Palace was attended by a member of each Institute. A ballot was drawn at our WI and I was lucky enough to attend. It was a lovely day; thousands of ladies of all ages and many nationalities, wearing lovely out-fits, and head wear of all descrip-tion. The tea was delicious, with enough of each item for everyone. What a setting in the beautiful grounds and the Palace terrace on one side. Fifty years earlier Denise Line's mother Irene Atkins had attended the Garden Party.

The WI was founded in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada in 1897 as a branch of the Farmers’ Institute. Support was given by the Ontar-io Government, and they ap-

pointed Laura Rose as its first organiser in 1899. It brought together women from isolated communities and trained them in home economics, child care, the care of small and young ani-mals and poultry keeping.

The WI started in Britain in World War One as the Agricultural Organisational Society, encouraging country women to become involved by growing and preserving food. By 1916 the first WI Sub-committee was set up to oversee the work with Lady Denman appointed as Chairman.

The movement was growing so fast that the first Federation was formed in 1917. Today there are numerous Federations, DOT being part of the Oxfordshire Federation.

In WWII the Women's Institute played a very active role in increasing the food stock by making jam and preserving produce; extra rations of sugar were issued to this end. After 1945 food shortages and rationing continued. The growth of food in gardens and smallholdings was essential and the WI members led the way in this.

From 1939 on the NFWIs have worked to influence the decisions of governments in national policies. A report

from the first AGM pressed for equality in all levels of education and equal pay for equal work. A report from members taking evacuees into their homes led to the family allowance coming into being after WWII. Annually motions are submitted for consideration by the membership. The two most favoured will be debated and voted on by delegates at the AGM. Recent campaigns have been launched to save the bee and to encourage organ donation. With the bee campaign, besides writing letters and acting as spokesmen, many members planted bee-loving plants in their gardens and encouraged family and friends to do the same.

The Dorchester-on-Thames WI really came in to being in 1952. The founding members were Pat Atkins and Irene Atkins. It is believed that an Institute was attempted in 1920 but had failed.

The DOT WI has an active membership, varying in age and numbers from year to year, as members’ lives and commitments change. Some local towns have several WIs, meeting at different times and days. In fact the rules allow a member to join two Institutes paying the full membership subscription to one and the local fee to the other.

There is a new concept called Workplace Institutes. The Institute at Warwick University will be hosting the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) conference in 2016. This organisation funds projects around the world. All WIs contribute financially annually.

The membership subscription is kept to a minimum so that it is affordable for all. The amount is divided between the NFWI, our Federation and our Institute. All costs, including speakers, magazines and hall hire, come from our Institute money, and fund raising helps to balance the books. We are kept abreast of activities and news through two magazines: News and Views Oxfordshire and WI Life NFWI.

The Programme and Events play an important role in the life of the Institute. Our speakers are booked well in advance. Who to include comes from attending Speakers Days, word of mouth, an interesting neighbour, attending talks elsewhere and even on cruises.

Activities are arranged by members such as visiting Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, theatre visits, country houses, stalls at village functions, running the Dorchester Tea room for the day, or anything that someone will organise and members will support. A variety of trips, concerts, activities are arranged through News and Views via our treasurer.

Over the years we have arranged courses in making Christmas decorations, glass painting, circle dancing and numerous others. WI Denman College always runs excel-lent courses; luckily this is nearby.

Some of the visits have been residential including York,

Chester and Denman College attended by members of this

Institute and are remembered with pleasure. An Institute

should reflect the needs and aspirations of all its member; all

can contribute. Guests are welcome to meetings. Our activities

recent and future are reported in the Dorchester News.

Jill Love

DoT WI Publicity Officer

Mary Tame gives encouraging words

Members await the arrival of the baton

Jill Love at Buckingham Palace


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Dorchester Pre-School

VACANCY – NVQ2 Pre-School Assistant An NVQ2 in Early Years is required at Dorchester Pre- School This is a temporary position from January 2016 to July 2016. Hourly pay dependent on relevant qualifications. Hours- Monday 8.45 am to 3.10 pm Tuesday 8.45 am to 3.10 pm Wednesday 11.30 am to 1.00 pm Thursday 11.30 am to 1.00 pm Friday 12 noon to 3.10 pm If you are interested in this position please email Helen Morris at [email protected] or telephone Helen on 01865 341805. Closing date: 11 December. References/DBS will be required.

Hallowe’en Thanks to all the houses that gave generously to these terrifying trick-or-treaters pictured right!

I know the knocking on your door can be considered a nuisance, but the children really had so much fun and it's always good to have an excuse to get the villagers together.

I was impressed with the children's restraint when it came to the 'honesty' boxes of sweets left outside some front doors!

Having visited many houses in the village, the prize for 'best Halloween performance' must be awarded to Bridge End....if you also visited, I'm sure you'll know 'witch' house I mean! Thanks again.

Amanda Budd

We started Term 2 with some very special visitors – a stick insect, skinny pig, snake and scorpion. These visitors created the starting point for our Big Writes this term. The children were able to learn about and more importantly touch the animals, which was very exciting as each class and the Pre-School were able to have an hour with these fantastic animals. Red Class were lucky enough to go time travelling as they journeyed back to Ancient Egypt to explore the mysteries that this rich culture had to offer. As well the chance to dress in the style of the period, a highlight of the day was the opportunity to learn how to belly dance, which proved a brilliant experience particularly for the boys! Thank you to Mrs Clarke for arranging the time travel. Children in Need day gave us the opportunity to dress as super heroes and raise money for this great cause. I felt safe in school that day as there were so many super he-roes there on standby if there had been a world disaster. This photo-graph shows that there is always a super hero ready to fly in to teach maths! Congratulations to Rebecca Green, Kodie Curtis, Cecily Gauden, Jacob Clewley, Jemima Fowler and Amelie White, who are were our Writers of the Month for October – these are the children who have shown either good progress in their writing or a piece of writing has really caught the imagination of their teacher during the month. Well done to them! As Christmas approaches, Blue and Yellow Class are preparing their nativity play, which is being performed on the 9 December at 2pm and 6pm. If anyone in the village would like to come to the 2pm performance, please let us know. The last day of term is 18 December with our Christmas Service at 1.15pm in the Abbey, please do come and join us for carols and readings – you will be most wel-come. With regards to staffing, we say goodbye to Mrs Clarke (Red Class Teacher) who leaves us at the end of this term after nine years at the school. I would like to say a big thank to her for all her hard work and dedication to the school over this time and wish her well for the future as she starts a new adventure as she moves away from Oxfordshire.

Russell Leigh Headteacher

When I was told that the school were welcoming Pre-School over to share their 'wild science' visit I was delighted, and even more excited when I was asked if I would like to help out. I was

envisaging a school hall full of miniature donkeys, a pig, perhaps a sheep or two. To say I was disappointed with the creatures that we were presented with is an under-statement! A snake, millipede, scorpion, frog and a 'skinny-pig'!! Luckily the children couldn't give a monkeys! They weren't phased in the slightest at stroking and touch-ing these mini-beasts (unlike some of the staff!). We were given so much information and the children seemed to take it all in; we were certainly talking about them for the next few days in my house. Happily we have now moved on to talk of camels, donkeys and a cow in a stable, as preparations for our Christmas show are underway. We are also learning about our topic - 'People who help us'. A fireman visited last week and some soldiers this week, we are talking about nurses and the police as well. Along-side this the children are being taught about road safety (always essential given the speed some people drive past the school!) It is lovely to work in conjunction with big school so for Children in Need we are combining Super Hero forces for the cake sale. So, in conclusion; busy times! And getting busier as places are filling up, so much so that we are employing a new member of staff in January.

St Birinus School News

Pre School


Deadline for February

Dorchester News All items must be sent by

Friday 8 January to

[email protected]

Anything you would like sent to newsletter editors for other churches in the Team should be sent to

[email protected] by the 9th of the preceding month

Bid grew up in Dorchester with a great love of horses. She had a pony and belonged to the Pony Club. Her mother was very much in to village life, and helped to organise various events. These included the village fête which was held in the field next to Watling Lane. A list of stall holders and their stalls showed ‘Pony rides 1d – Biddy’. As this was in the early 1930s Bid would still have been very young. Later Bid rode a horse at the front of the celebration parades through Dorches-ter: I think to do with the Coronation. Bid’s love of horses didn’t diminish as she grew up. She s tar ted to buy ponies/horses , ride them and try to improve them and sell them for a higher price. There was one pony that she sold three times, having bought him back twice, for less than she had sold him for. This taught her a lot about horses and also about business. Bid found that she needed some help with the horses. She started keeping rabbits and selling them in the village to make money to pay wages. This was the start of the Dorocina Stud. Bid had an Arabian stallion, Shariff, and started to breed part-bred Arabs. Bid eventually managed to buy two Arabian mares. Bid was still competing in various competitions and did well; she and her favourite horse, Salina, (home bred) qualified for the Foxhunter Championship and the Horse of the Year Show. In the late 1940s and early 1950s Bid Organised Dorchester Horse Show. This was held at Bishop’s Court. One field is still known as the jumping field. The competitors included Pat and Stirling Moss. Pat Moss went on to be a top show jumper. Bid had taken over the property paperwork on the death of her father. She was meticulous with the leases and quite pleased if she could find a mistake. She believed in a fair rent, which may be a bit lower than most as she felt property was better occupied than empty. Bid was also running the farm and was really pleased when the cattle sold well. In recent years some of the cattle have been topping the market at Thame; one week gaining a prize for the best pen of steers.

In the 1980s Arab racing caught Bid’s eye. Reading the results she found horses of her breeding were doing well. After selling a horse for racing, and talking about how she would like to run a horse, an arrangement was made for them to train and race a horse for her. It worked well and other horses followed.

Bid was a very independent and determined person and seemed to take everything in her stride. A riding accident left her with a broken hip, but she had ridden home, and it wasn’t until she had sat down for a while that she found she could not move. When she broke her other hip, having tripped in her mid-eighties, and was recovering in Wallingford hospital, her constant complaint was that nobody had been in to help her walk. She was still

determined to get fit. It was the same with everything; it didn’t matter what went wrong, you took steps to put it right. This is just a brief outline of her life. There a lot of memories of fun, success and sadness, but this would turn into a book!

Jenny Trinder

Anne ‘Biddy’ Bowditch 1922-2015

Tribute to Miss Anne Bowditch (Biddy)

Biddy will be sadly missed by all who worked for her; for her strength and leadership, her great interest in the cattle, her smooth running of the farm and her kindness to us all. Biddy was a very fair person, so good at making decisions and a pleasure to work for. In fact, it has never really seemed like a job, more a way of life, where we have all quietly pulled together, enjoyed the seasons, and overcome problems as a team under her direction. We give out thanks and gratitude to such a special lady, for sharing her life with us and allowing us the freedom to enjoy this beautiful farm and all the land. We have been so privileged. ‘All is safely gathered in, and the cows are on their way home.’ RIP now.

The Clifton Family.

Handel’s Messiah Dorchester Abbey

December 19, 2015 6:00 pm Orchestra of St John’s

Conductor John Lubbock Peter Kirk tenor

Ellie Edmonds alto Morgan Pearse bass

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News from Footsteps Foundation Your Local Children’s Charity

Firstly we would like to thank all of the organisers who worked so hard on the fabulous fireworks this November the fifth – the team of volunteers were truly outstanding and they provided a spectacular show for the whole village. As well as putting on such a great event they raised over a thousand pounds for Footsteps Foundation! We hope this is the first of many. This December, for the first time, Footsteps Foundation are holding a wonderful Christmas concert in Dorchester Abbey. Everyone is welcome so please do put the date of December 9 in your diary. The event will feature an eclectic programme, with traditional carols by the wonderful Headington Singers, along with excerpts from Vivaldi’s Gloria. The programme will be spiced up with a Jazz trio singing some Christmas favourites, a soprano solo, a special song with Footsteps children and even a Ukulele band! The candle-lit concert will be free of charge, with delicious home-made refreshments in the interval. Children are welcome and we would love to see Dorchester residents at the event. With thanks to Hallidays for sponsoring the event. We thank everyone in the village for their kind support in 2015 and wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful and prosperous new year.

Earth Trust dinner and auction

Environmental learning charity Earth Trust raised almost £20,000 at a fundraising dinner and auction held on Thursday 15 October. Guests who attended the evening, entitled Water for Life, enjoyed a four course dinner cooked by award winning chefs Mike North and John Footman, who were supported by local Hospitality and Catering students from City of Oxford College. Attendees also enjoyed an inspirational after-dinner speech by eminent writer and broadcaster Jonathon Porritt. Local businesses and supporters donated some wonder-ful items for the auction and the BBC’s Jonty Hearnden was the auctioneer.

Happy Christmas to you all from all of us. As I've mentioned before DOT WI welcomes all ladies young, middle aged and the young at heart, so please join us. Thursday, 12 November 2.30 pm Thank you Susan Jupp for your kind hospitality. The afternoon was very friendly, informative, and fun. The exercises were simple, many in a sitting position but for some of us it showed how out of condition we were, or is it just me? For most of us, the Quiz was mind stretching, especially the clues about songs. Our youngest member was really on the ball, and they were not new songs! Christmas Child Shoe Campaign Anyone who is still willing to fill a shoe box for needy children, or can offer help at the Warehouse please contact Linda Hender 01865 340032. Last year 6,000 boxes were distributed to needy children worldwide. Thursday 10 December: 7.30 pm Village Hall The Christmas Party, with entertainment by Marguerite Osborne’s stories of Christmas. It's sure to be unusual and entertaining. Finger food is needed. If you've not signed the list please contact Susan Jupp 01865 341066 or Audrey Houlston 01865 343331 or just bring along yummy finger food. Numbers will be appreciated. You don't need to bring dishes and cutlery. Thursday 14 January 2016: 2.30 pm Village Hall "Mind Boggler" Chris Hare Please come and find out what it means! Subscriptions for 2016 due. (£37.50) WIs will receive £18; Oxfordshire Federation: £8.40 NFWI: £11.10 Dual membership 2nd Institute £18 Cheques payable to Dorchester On Thames WI Thursday 28 January 2016 The Annual New Year Lunch at the Fleur de Lys 12.15 for 12.30 pm. Full information will be available at our Christmas Party on : menu, cost for 2 or 3 courses (choice of number of courses) including tea or coffee and the gratuity. Please let Susan know if you are coming and prompt payment is essential. Thanks again Susan Jupp for all your hard work. (01865 341066) Thursday 11 February 2016: 2.30 pm Village Hall ‘Covent Garden and Its Wicked Ways’ with Colin Oakes I love how it is today and visit several times a year, but will I after the talk! Do come and find out. Thursday10 March: 2.30 pm Village Hall AGM. Urgently needed: members to serve on the Committee and to take office. Audrey will not be continuing with Programme and Events, although she has almost completed the 2016-2017 programme. Susan wants to stand down as Treasurer. Without key people we will have to close. In 2016 our meetings will be held at 2.30 pm with the agreement of the majority of members and with the possibility of new members if we meet in the daytime. As always, I thank everyone for their continued friendship, enthusiasm and support which makes our Institute a success. Wishing everybody a healthy and prosperous 2016 Ladies interested in joining please contact any of the following :- Pauline Kenway-Jackson, President: 01865 340746 Jill Love, Publicity Officer: 01865 716557 Susan Jupp, Treasurer and Vice Chair: 01865 341066 Gill Haworth, Secretary: 01865 340775 Audrey Houlston, Programme and Events: 01865 343331 Irene Cadman, Welfare and Raffle: 01865 340255 Anne Parker, New Committee member: 01865 340520


St Mary’s Dental Practice Chris Ballard, BDS (Lond). LDS.RCS (Eng)

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Tel 01491 825252 We are a family orientated Practice located in the centre of Wallingford providing care and consideration from all members of my team to help provide you with all aspects of your dental requirements.

For further information, or make an appointment, please call my Receptionist on 01491 825252

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Chiropodist

Third Thursday of each month, 1.00–4.00 pm Belcher Court Sitting Room

17 December

For an appointment, Jo Bennett, 079031 33469 Cost £15

Wallingford

Museum As usual, Wallingford Museum will close for its winter break (Dec-Feb) to carry out refurbishment and prepare exciting new exhibitions for next year. These will feature William the Conqueror’s impact on Wallingford - including his crossing of the Thames here with his army 950 years ago after the Battle of Hastings. There’ll also be an unusual and fascinating special exhibition revealing history through the work of cartoonists over the centuries. The Museum will re-open on 1 March 2016. Please remember that the highly successful Museum

bookshop, with its constantly changing stock of good

second-hand books (all modestly priced) will remain open

during December, January and February. The bookshop

will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10.30am to

1.00pm.

However, for one Saturday only there will be 'The Best

Book Sale' on 5 December from 10.30am to 3.00pm.

www.wallingfordmuseum.org.uk

‘The White Tower

under the Normans’ January's talk to The Wallingford Historical and Archaeological Society (TWHAS) will be given by Jeremy Ashbee (English Heritage), who will present 'The White Tower under the Normans '.

Following his excellent talk on the Tower of London in

the 13th and 14th centuries at the recent 'Castles of the

Thames Valley' conference in Wallingford, Jeremy will

be talking to us again about the Norman core of the

Tower, the White Tower. Based on work he did some

years ago ahead of a major conservation campaign at

the Tower, the talk will present a synthesis of documentary

and archaeological examination of the building, and

comparison with other parts of the complex and other

towers elsewhere, to suggest what the intentions of the

Normans were when they built it, and how that contrasts

with how it subsequently evolved and was used in practice.

This talk will be held on Friday 8 January, 8 pm at Wall-ingford Town Hall. Visitors (£3) are most welcome.

www.twhas.org.uk Wallingford Gardening Club

Wine, Mince Pies and Quiz At the December meeting of the Wallingford Gardening Club, our members will test their gardening know-how with a short quiz.

Following a very brief Annual General Meeting, they will all enjoy wine and mince pies!

This event will be held in the Ridgeway Community Centre, Wallingford at 7.30pm on Thursday 10 December.

The January talk will be: Trees: a camera's perspective (Richard Roslyn - head Gardener, Blewbury Manor) on 14 January.

Visitors very welcome £2.

Isabelle Darby

Wallingford Photographic Club What’s on in December.

Dec 3: Themed Print Competition: 'Landscape' Judge: Peter Prosser. Dec 10: Themed Digital Competition: 'Landscape' Dec 17: Christmas Social. Members. If you are interested in photography come along and say hello, and see what we do. New members always welcome. Check out our website. Wallingford Photographic Club

Tony France (Press Officer).

Wallingford U3A Our November speaker, Tony King, gave us a kaleido-scopic history of London's popular theatre world, from the 1663 opening of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane and the world's first circus in 1781 onwards, in an amazing feast of music and colour. He had rare footage of Lilian Gish, Little Titch and Ella Shields; pictures and recordings from the great Music Halls: the Hippodromes, Sadlers Wells and Alhambra. There were tough times during the 20th Century with wars and depression, but there was Noel Coward’s Cavalcade, Howard Keel, Fred Astaire. Post- War saw the arrival of the great American musicals: Oklahoma, South Pacific, The King and I, through to My Fair Lady, West Side Story and Les Miserables. He gave us much more than this brief survey suggests and has promised to come back. When he does, don't miss it.

Upcoming: Dec 2: Christmas Party: Wine, Music and Song with Pandemonium. Jan 6: Not Joanna Lumley. Moscow to Vladivostok on the Trans Siberian Express. (Catherine and Deirdre.) Feb 4: AGM then Jim and Pat Fish: Travels and Wildlife in Tanzania. Our meetings are held at 2.00 pm on the first Wednesday of each month at Crowmarsh Village Hall. Visitors are always made welcome. For more information visit our website: www.u3asites.org.uk/wallingford, or phone Jill on 01491 835994

Dorchester News online

To remind you that Dorchester News is available to download from the Abbey website each month (go to the homepage at: www.dorchester-abbey.org.uk and click on Dorchester News) and from the village website (go to www.dorchester-on-thames.co.uk and click on the Dorchester News tab).

http://www.wallingfordmuseum.org.uk

http://www.twhas.org.uk

http://www.wallingfordphoto.club/

http://www.u3asites.org.uk/wallingford


From Dorchester (War Memorial)

No. To Dep Arrive

114 Abingdon 07.30* 08.09

97 Wallingford 09.07 09.19

97 Didcot 09.36 10.16


97 Didcot 11.26 12.06


97 Didcot 13.26 14.06

97 Shillingford 14.47 14.51 NS

97 Wallingford 14.47 14.59 SO

114 Abingdon 14.56 15.16

114 Wallingford 16.08 16.26 NS

To Dorchester (War Memorial)

No. From Dep Arrive

114 Wallingford 07.15* 07.30*

114 Abingdon 08.34 09.07


97 Didcot 10.20 10.57


97 Didcot 12.10 12.47


97 Didcot 14.10 14.47

114 Shillingford 14.52 14.56 NS

114 Abingdon 15.38 16.08 NS

Village Bus Services

NS= Not Saturday. SO=Saturday only. * = Mon-Fri school days; 5 mins later in school holidays No services on Sundays or Bank Holidays. X39 and X40 provide half-hourly service to Oxford, Wallingford and Reading from the bypass.

All buses operated by Thames Travel: www.thames-travel.co.uk or 01491 837988 . Times checked with Thames Travel website 14 November.

What’s On Cinema: Performances start at 7.30pm unless other-wise stated. NB All cinema shows are now advertise-ment-free!

December Tues 1 Brooklyn (12A)

Wed 2 The Importance of Being Earnest (12A)

Thurs 3 The Importance of Being Earnest (12A)

Sun 6 Back to the Future I (PG)

Mon 7 Back to the Future II (PG)

Tues 8 Jane Eyre NT Live 7.00pm

Wed 9 Back to the Future III (PG)

Thurs 10 Of Mice and Men NT Live 7.00pm

Fri 11 The Lady in the Van (12A)

Sun 13 The Lady in the Van (12A)

Mon 14 The Lady in the Van (12A)

Tues 15 The Lady in the Van (12A)

Wed 16 The Nutcracker ROH Live Ballet 7.15pm

Thurs 17 Dr Zhivago (PG) 7.00pm

Fri 18 The Lady in the Van (12A) 10.30am

Fri 18 The Program (15)

Sat 19 The Program (15)

LIVE Saturday 5 December: Nathan Jones’ All Stars Band. An evening of popular jazz featuring music of Sinatra, Basie, Miller and many more. £12.50. 7.45pm

January Rapunzel, Sinodun Players ’ panto, 15 to 30 January 2016. Come and let your hair down at this traditional family panto which is filled to the brim with colourful characters. Audiences can boo, hiss, laugh, sing, clap, sneeze, quack and pat their heads whilst rubbing their tummies at the antics of witches, silly gnomes, courtiers, fairies and, of course, the lovely Rapunzel and her dashing prince. Performances Tuesdays to Saturdays with a Saturday matinee. Tickets: Adults £10 (Tues-Thurs), £12 (Fri & Sat) children £6. On sale now from box office (01491 825000) or www.cornexchange.org.uk Looking Ahead A Spectacular Evening Celebrating the Magical Music of Richard and Robert Sherman, 15-19 March 2016, featuring songs and characters from Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, including the iconic Chitty Chitty car. Presented by Crescendo Music and the Corn Exchange with a huge cast drawn from local people. Fun-packed memorable evening for all the family. Tickets, adults £15, children under-14 £12. On sale now. Tickets and further information available online www.cornexchange.org.uk or from box office (01491 825000). .

Dorchester News wishes you a

Merry Christmas and a

Happy New Year for 2016

Image courtesy of gubgib at FreeDigitalPhotos.net


Refuse Collections Weekdays from 7.00 am Saturdays from 6.00 am

Weekly: food waste (in bio-degradable starch-based bag or wrapped in newspaper, in green caddy) Fortnightly: garden waste, recycling; non-recyclable waste

Fri 4 Dec Black Fri 11 Dec Green Fri 18 Dec Black Tues 29 Dec Green (no brown bin) Tues 5 Jan Black Mon 11 Jan Green Sat 16 Jan Black Fri 22 Jan Green Fri 29 Jan Black

Green = recycling (loose in large green bin) and garden waste (brown bin, +£35 pa) Black = non-recyclable waste (in a bin liner if you wish, in black bin)

The recycling centre at Oakley Wood (signposted off the A4130 Nettlebed/Henley road 1½ miles east) is open.8.00am – 5.00pm seven days a week.

Regular events Weekly: Monday 10.00 am – 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm – 4.00 pm

Abbey Guest House: Watercolour Painting [Full details from rebeccahind.com] Tuesday 7.30 pm Abbey: Bellringing Practice 10.20-10.30am by War Memorial Fishmonger (p.13) Thursday 9.30 am – 11.00am Village Hall: Baby & Toddler Group (term time only) Friday 7.00 pm Abbey: Choir Practice Alt Thurs 2.55 to 3.15pm War Memorial: Mobile Library (p.7)

Monthly: 2nd Thursday 7.30 pm Village Hall: WI 2nd Wednesday 7.30 pm Village Hall: Parish Council (green p.1) 3rd Wednesday 7.30 pm Abbey Guest House: Culham Horticultural Club 3rd Thursday The George Hotel Classic Car Show 3rd Thursday Belcher Court: Chiropodist (p.23) 4th Thursday 2.30 pm: Service at the Cheshire Home See Village Notice Boards for details. Please send all entries and updates for the Dorchester Diary to Geoff Russell by email to:

[email protected]. The Diary will also appear in the Parish Council’s website: www.dorchesteronthames.co.uk

From SODC Garden waste and Christmas tree collections over the festive season

Like every year, there’ll be no garden waste collections over the Christmas and New Year period so our crews can concentrate on all the extra waste generated over the festive season. This year, that means no collections be-tween Friday 25 December and Friday 8 January, but there’ll be extra-large collections in the spring and autumn to make up for it. Head to www.southoxon.gov.uk/gardenwaste to find out more. If you’ve got a real tree this Christmas and you’re one of our garden waste customers, we’ll collect it from Monday 11 January – just leave it by your brown bin (but please not in it, as it’s tricky for the crews to get it out). If you’re not a garden waste customer, you can drop your tree off at one of a number of locations around the district for composting. All the Christmas tree details will be on the district coun-cil’s website at www.southoxon.gov.uk closer to the time.

Winter weather waste If bad weather like snow or flooding disrupts waste collec-tions in the run-up to Christmas this winter, Biffa will try to catch up the following day. Leave your bins out for three days - if they're not emptied after three days, bring them back in and put them out next time they're due with any side waste. You can get the latest information at www.southoxon.gov.uk or twitter.com/southoxon.

Recycling rejection Keep food waste out of your recycling wheelie bin. This includes recyclable food trays with food stuck to them. Biffa are checking recycling bins - if they contain things that can't be recycled, Biffa won't empty them and will leave a note to explain why. Please rinse out your food trays before you put them in the green bin - if our recycling is contaminated with food waste, the people who take the recycling off our hands might reject it and send it to landfill. You can check what bins things go in at www.southoxon.gov.uk/recycleit or by calling 03000 610610.

Now you can recycle even more You can now recycle small electrical items by leaving them in a small carrier bag tied up next to your grey bin when you normally put it out for collection. You can recy-cle old clothes and textiles that are too tatty for charity shops by leaving them in a small tied carrier bag next to your green bin. There’s more on the district council’s

website at www.southoxon.gov.uk/weeeandtextiles.

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Anglican Priest Dorchester Rectory Revd. Canon Sue Booys 01865 340007

Education Officer Margaret Craig 01865 343164 [email protected]

Abbey E-mail: [email protected] Contact details for Church Wardens and other Abbey information are on the notice board in the Abbey.

Magazine copy: [email protected]

Abbey Web www.dorchester-abbey.org.uk Village Web www.dorchesteronthames.co.uk

Roman Catholic Priest The Presbytery Fr. John Osman Bridge End 01865 340417 www.stbirinus.co.uk

Abbey Calendar December Sundays

Dec 6 Advent 2 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Canon Sue Booys) 10.30 am Morning Service

Dec 13 Advent 3 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Revd. Michael Lakey) 10.30 am Sung Eucharist 5.00 pm PACT Carol Service

Dec 20 Advent 4 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Canon Sue Booys) 10.30 am Family Service 6.00 pm Carol Service Dec 24 Christmas Eve 4.30pm Crib Service 11.30 pm Midnight Communion Dec 25 Christmas Day 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Revd Michael Lakey) 10.30 am Christmas Communion Dec 27 Sunday after Christmas 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Revd Michael Lakey and Revd Caroline King) 10.30 am Team Service at Dorchester Abbey

Holy Baptism

11 October Cleo Irene Williams Sophia Mara Williams

25 October Blaise Mae Douglas

Funeral

15 October Anne Bowditch

Memorial Service

17 October Max Watson

Every Tuesday 10.30am – 12 noon Coffee in the Abbey Every Wednesday 9.30am Holy Communion at Berinsfield Church

December

Sat 5 9.30 am Christmas Tree installation and Decorations Workshop

Tue 8 10.15 am Short Communion

Tue 8 8.00 pm Home Farm Trust Concert

Wed 9 6.00 pm Footsteps Christmas Carol Event

Thurs 10 3.00 pm Queen Anne’s School Carol Service

Sat 12 7.30 pm OSJ Christmas Music Mon 14 7.00 pm Cranford House School

Carol Service

Sat 19 6.00 pm OSJ: Handel’s Messiah

Thurs 31 7.00 pm Strauss Gala

January

Tue 12 10.15 am Short Communion

Sun 17 2.15 pm Song School

Thurs 28 2.30 pm Service at the Cheshire Home

Sat 31 7.00 pm Thames Consort Concert

Parish Registers

Abbey Calendar January Sundays

Jan 3 Christmas 2 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Revd. Michael Lakey and Revd Jon Roberts) 10.30 am Morning Service

Jan 10 Baptism of Christ 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Canon Sue Booys) 10.30 am Sung Eucharist Jan 17 Epiphany 2 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Revd. Michael Lakey ) 10.30 am Family Service 6.00 pm Evensong Jan 24 Epiphany 3 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Canon Sue Booys) 10.30 am Sung Eucharist 7.00 pm Taize@7 Jan 31 Epiphany 4 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Revd Michael Lakey) 10.30 am Team Service at Warborough

Weekdays

1 Dorchester News November 2015

From your MP... John Howell November 2015

Monthly Meetings The December meeting will take place in the back room of the Village Hall on Wednesday 9 December commencing at 7.30 pm. The January meeting will take place in the back room of the Vil-lage Hall on Wednesday 13 January commencing at 7.30 pm. All are welcome to attend for any part of the meeting.

The Agenda will be posted on Village notice boards and on the Parish Council section of the Village website – www.dorchesteronthames.co.uk - three clear days in advance of the meeting. All Parish Council Meetings are open to the public; a resident who wishes to raise any matter of concern is welcome to do so at the start of the meeting.

Contacting the Parish Council The Parish Clerk is Geoffrey Russell of The Pigeons (next to The Fleur de Lys), 5-7 High Street, Dorchester-on-Thames OX10 7HH Telephone (during normal office hours, please, unless an emergency) 01865 340759 e –mail: [email protected]

Cllr Chris Hill, the Chairman of the Council, can be contacted via [email protected]

More information about the Village is available at www.dorchesteronthames.co.uk

Urgent Village Notices The Parish Clerk sends urgent village notices via e-mail as the occasion warrants. If you would like to be added to his e-mail list, please send a message to [email protected].

When you receive the message, you will view only your own e

-mail address: as a security precaution, all other residents’

addresses are hidden. This is standard practice to protect

your e-mail address.

Parish Council Notices

Christmas Wishes from John Howell MP Firstly, as this newsletter will appear in the December magazines I would like to take this opportunity to wish all constituents a peaceful Christmas and to send my best wishes for the year ahead. May I also say thank you to all those who work hard in our communities to make them special for the rest of us. So many different things go on across the constituency that help to keep our communities vibrant and good places in which to live. It is always a pleasure when I get the opportunity to visit community activities and I look forward to learning yet more about what is being done in 2016. News Update I write in mid-November when the issues that have been at the forefront in recent weeks have covered a wider range of areas. In a brief newsletter I cannot cover all that are on my mind at present. I will therefore leave those that have been widely covered in the media and focus on some of the other issues that have been more frequently raised with me by constituents. With the 2015 Paris climate change conference on the horizon some key issues have been raised on this important and serious issue. It is a threat that we face together with the rest of the world so I am pleased that the UK is taking a leading role on this. Ahead of the negotiations, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has said that she wants a strong, ambitious, rules-based agreement that makes the shift to a clean global economy irreversible. The UK will be pushing for an ambitious deal that sends a strong signal that the future is low carbon. This is an important for the environment and has implications for different countries across the globe. I know that there are many people who are sceptical about climate change. I don’t believe that it is a side issue that we can take or leave. The environment is important in itself but it also has implications for the economy and our economic security. Failure to take effective action will make it increasingly hard to maintain our prosperity, protect our people and conserve our countryside. Access to personal communications data has been another key issue. Whilst many people understand the need for our intelligence agencies to be able to intercept potential terrorist

activity, the Investigatory Powers Bill has raised some concerns. The draft Bill includes provisions on each of the key capabilities available to the intelligence agencies and others: communications data; interception; and equipment interference. There have been three independent reviews on investigatory powers and all agreed that the agencies should have the power to acquire and use data in bulk. However I am pleased that the Home Secretary has also announced that there will be a ‘double-lock’ authorisation process for interception warrants, requiring approval by a judge as well as by the Secretary of State. Along similar lines the recent aircraft bomb on the Russian plane raised new fears. I have every sympathy for those effectively trapped in Sharm-el-Sheikh recently but it was in the interests of safety which I’m am sure most people appreciate despite the frustration. Aviation security arrangements are kept under close review and it is reassuring to know that the Government continues to identify and work with airports across the world in seeking to eradicate any safety and security risks for all passengers. A totally different concern that has been raised over time is that of funding to our schools. Historically Oxfordshire schools are among those disadvantaged by the current funding formula. This issue was the subject of a debate in Parliament earlier in the year. In addition issues of recruiting and retaining good teachers, post-16 education, Academy funding and rural schools are all on the minds of our head teachers. I recently arranged a meeting at the House for representatives from the schools and all of the Oxfordshire MPs. Although there are no quick solutions to their concerns. I am pleased that they have been able to raise them face-to-face with the MPs including the Prime Minister. For more information my website is regularly updated and of-fers information on my work both in Westminster and in the constituency. The address is www.johnhowellmp.com In addition, if you would like to subscribe to my e-newsletter please e mail me at: [email protected] You can also follow me on twitter @johnhowellmp or on Face-book www.facebook.com/john.howellmp

Traffic speed survey Car speed was raised as a key issue by many attendees of the Open Meeting held in the Village Hall in May 2013. Subsequently, with funding provided through County Cllr Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, County Highways, on behalf of the Parish Council , carried out a speed survey in October. An initial review indicates that over 20% of cars travel at over 40 mph along Abingdon Road (both directions) and over 25% travel at over 40 mph along Henley Road in an easterly direction. The results are being reviewed and options for speed reduction will be considered by a group of volunteers in early December. Comments/suggestions are welcome and should be forwarded to the Parish Clerk by 2 December, preferably by email to [email protected]

http://www.dorchesteronthames.co.uk



http://www.dorchesteronthames.co.uk/

http://www.johnhowellmp.com



2 Dorchester News November 2015

From your county councillor… Lorraine Lindsay-Gale

November 2015 Budget consultation OCC has launched a public consultation on options for saving money. It has already saved or has firm plans to save nearly £300m since 2010 but believes it needs to find another £50m of savings over the next four years. The government is reducing public spending to tackle the national budget deficit, which means we have to make yet more difficult decisions about council services. As well as receiving less money from government, the council faces rising demand for services – particularly for vulnerable adults and children at risk of abuse and neglect. About half OCC's budget is spent on 2% of the population of Oxfordshire, and that proportion is set to rise as a result of a growing aging population. The council is consulting the public before taking the decisions and delivering a balanced budget on 16 February 2016. Talking Oxfordshire, the council’s budget consultation, started on 20 October, when all the savings options were published on the council’s website. It will close on 30 November. There were three public events in October/November with an independent chair alongside the leader and chief finance officer to provide residents with a chance to find out about the council’s budget position and have their say. To take part in the consultation online go to www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/budget. Hard copies of the budget consultation documents will also be available in every library. Children’s centre and early intervention changes OCC is also asking for views on its proposal to adopt a new model of children's services in Oxfordshire for children aged 0-19 to save £8 million from the budget by 2016-17. The proposal is to create a brand new service for families and their children aged 0-19 years old, or up to 25 if the child has additional needs. The consultation runs until 23:59 on 10 January 2016. OCC would open up to eight new Children and Family Centres across Oxfordshire. These centres would support children and their families who need help and will integrate the work of the Children's Centres, the Early Intervention Hubs and Children's Social Care. As well as the new Children and Family Centres OCC would also provide an outreach service so children and families can be supported close to where they live. Further-more, OCC would work with schools, health and other services to ensure that children and families get the help that they need. As part of the consultation process OCC would like to identify any potential impact of this proposal. OCC would also like to identify options for the future use of the Children's Centres and Early Intervention Hub buildings. Options about how universal services could continue to be run without financial support from OCC are also to be considered. Hard copies of the consultation are available at all children’s centres and early intervention hubs. Oxfordshire Together – successful launch event for

parish councils As referred to above, OCC is looking at alternative ways in which it can deliver a number of different public services, across a wide range of areas. The way public services are delivered will shift towards enabling people and communities to take ownership of local priorities. OCC will continue to provide community leadership and foster partnership working, but the days when the council could deliver all services to all people have gone. OCC has started talking to town and parish councils to identify opportunities to work together. An initial engagement event for town and parish councils took place on 21st September. OCC's vision for working together is outlined in Oxfordshire Together – the Model booklet, with further details on some of the initial services in scope included in the Transitional Offer of Highway Services booklet. Both can be found at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oxfordshiretogether. The programme timetable is: September – December Initial discussion with town and parish councils. Engagement with town and parish councils interested in taking on delivery of some services to develop agreements. January - April 2016 Implementation of the first ‘tranche’ of agreements April 2016 onwards Review viability of approach and consider further roll out. Better broadband for Oxfordshire – update OCC is on track to achieve the target – agreed back in 2013 – of connecting 64,500 homes and businesses with superfast broadband by the end of 2015. By the end of August OCC had enabled over 56,000 premises to be connected to superfast (24mbps) broadband, and expects to reach the goal of 64,500 premises by the end of the year, on time and within budget. Free wi-fi in libraries OCC has been awarded more than £86,000 by Arts Council England for Wi-Fi to be installed in the 28 Oxfordshire libraries that currently do not have it (it is already installed in 15 of the county's 43 libraries). The WiFi fund supports the Arts Council’s goals around developing library services, ensuring that they are fit for purpose now and in the future. This is a one-off grant. It is not a substitute for money that may be saved from the Library Service’s budgets as part of the council’s 2016-20 budget savings options. Installation will take place during Spring 2016. All 43 libraries to stay open and become OCC’s front door In addition to the welcome installation of Wi-Fi across the county, the Library Service will now undertake a service restructure merging with Customer Services in order that the public will be able to access a whole range of government services on line, making the libraries the Council’s front door. This restructure will contribute towards the Council’s overall savings target and the £1m out of the £7m budget that the Libraries must find. Further savings are proposed through the mobile library service being withdrawn but in mitigation the Home Library Service will be increased for people who are isolated and housebound. The Service has been so successful in attracting volunteers to help run the Community Libraries it is hoped that many more friends, relations and neighbours will come forward to help take books to the people they know locally who enjoy a good read and some extra company.

dorchester news...2015/12/11 · 3 dorchester news december 2015 christmas families are...

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